Received an interesting response to my post on Richard Anderson’s poor attempt at propaganda published in the Delta in-flight magazine, Sky.
Delta collected more revenue from its luggage fee in the 3rd quarter than any other airline.
Steve Denes points out that not only is Mr. Anderson mired in the past but that he conveniently left out the billions of dollars airlines make in fees for checked bags, changing reservations, seat selection, food and beverage, blankets and pillows and so on.
Indeed, Anderson’s fictional person traveling on a $300 ticket (I’ve personally made four domestic reservations since Jan. 1 and only one was that low, but I digress) might pay $100 to check two bags, pay for food, a pillow and may pay $150, if he had to change his ticket.
Now I have no problem with airlines pricing their products this way personally, but as Mr. Denes points out, this has a policy ramification. Those fees are not subject to the federal ticket tax, reducing resources available for air traffic control and infrastructure.
As I pointed out in my post, the airlines Mr. Anderson has worked for are known for doing all they can to stunt competition. A demonstrated lack of interest over the years in investing in infrastructure and air traffic control has yielded a system that restricts competition, as does his demonstrated interest in exerting as much control as possible over the running of airports served by his airlines.
Mr. Anderson is free to say whatever he wants and he is under no obligation to ensure that what he says is correct or consistent.
But next time you are sitting in a delay, or lament the lack of competition on a particular route, I hope you will look on his statements and others like it, in a different way.
